Quote Originally Posted by OldTrees1 View Post
The DM is a consumer of a product. If they have feedback about that product, why can't they share that feedback?
The other players are consumers of a product. If they have feedback about that product, why can't they share that feedback?
Yes, the DM and other players will try to fix it locally, but they prefer a product that works better VS one they have to apply lots of bodges and patches before it works.

The rest of your post is about engagement. That is the responsibility of all of the players. However it does not negate their feedback about the product they are consuming.
Exactly, the game is purchased/chosen to be fun, and if the game fails to provide the framework it aims or claims to, it is, in fact, failing to some extent. We could just as easily write:

Folks, that is what the game is for. The game (ruleset) is there to make sure that EVERYONE has fun, and that usually means EVERYONE participates in the classic three pillars of RPGs = social, exploration and combat.
But the game is bad at that, and the DM therefore has to go out of their way or put extra work into what are failings of the base game. The non-combat pillars are... uh... well, let's just say they make CR and adventuring day expectations seem great! :P